Gray Bat

Of the 18 species of bats recorded in Florida, 13 are residents and three of these regularly roost in limestone caves. One of these cave-dwelling species is the endangered gray bat, a medium-sized bat colored uniformly grayish-brown, with a wingspan of 10 - 11 inches. Gray bats eat large quantities of flying aquatic insects such as mosquitoes, mayflies, stoneflies and beetles.

While some species of bats may spend only a part of the year in caves - during winter hibernation, for example - the gray bat is dependent on caves year-round. Mating occurs in the fall, and female gray bats store the sperm during the winter, then ovulate and become pregnant in the spring. During the winter months, males and females hibernate together in caves with a relatively constant humidity. Come spring, the females form maternity colonies in warm, moist caves to give birth and raise their young, while the males form bachelor colonies in separate caves. A single offspring is born in May, and the young stay in the maternity cave until they are about one month old. By July, most of the young can fly with the adults.

In Florida, gray bats are limited to a few caves near Marianna, in the Florida panhandle. When roosting bats are disturbed, they expend valuable energy needed for survival. The population of gray bats has declined sharply throughout its range, largely due to human disturbance, but in many areas populations have stabilized following protection of cave roosts. Cave tours in Florida Caverns State Park do not visit any caves used regularly by bats.

Wildlife Viewing Information

Map of Viewing Locations - Where you can find gray bats